LORD MANNERS 73 



but later on, with a failing scent and a beaten fox, 

 they puzzled out the line until they ran him from 

 scent to view. He was also an extraordinary stout 

 old fox, though not very straight-necked, and a 

 weaker member would have probably succumbed 

 after the first twenty-five minutes. 



Those initial minutes were, I remember, great 

 fun, as after finding in Ragdale Wood and running 

 through the gorse, we crossed the Fosse, swung 

 left-handed and raced down the valley to Seagrave. 

 Here the fox had hoped to find an open drain, but 

 being disappointed turned back to his starting- 

 point, and by some clever dodging managed to get 

 well ahead of the pack. They, however, worked up 

 to him and were on good terms again at Ragdale 

 village, but he succeeded in giving them the slip, 

 and made his last effort in the Hoby Vale. 



It was not a really good scenting day, and the 

 smell of a fox grows less as his strength weakens, 

 so that hounds had to put their noses down and 

 work hard ; but they were ably assisted by their 

 huntsman, and the final triumph was due to the 

 combination — that mutual trust and confidence 

 which always existed between Firr and his pack. 



This was only one of many instances of the great 

 huntsman's skill, patience and perseverance. 



In later days I have heard men who had not 

 enjoyed the privilege of hunting with Firr remark, 

 " Of course he never stopped to hunt a fox, but 

 directly hounds threw up their heads, galloped 

 on to the nearest covert," and they will also inno- 

 cently inquire : " Isn't it true that more than half 

 the good gallops of the Quorn were after Firr and 

 not after a fox ? " These slanders have probably 



